Latest poll numbers at odds with GOP debt stance

This story was reported by Evening News correspondent Norah O'Donnell.

President Barack Obama met privately on Sunday morning with two top House Republicans here at the White House. Sources tell CBS News they were meeting with the president's chief of staff when President Obama dropped in unannounced and invited them to the Oval Office for about ten minutes.

No one is giving any details on the substance discussed in that meeting, but today the president said simply, "We're making progress."

In the Rose Garden Monday, Mr. Obama said he's still pushing hard to reach the biggest deal possible with Republicans.

"We can't let politics stand in the way of doing the right thing in Washington," Mr. Obama said.

But with two weeks left before the August 2 deadline, a new CBS News poll shows Americans are increasingly angry at government leaders and politics as usual.

Specifically on the budget standoff, 49 percent blame Republicans for inaction, while 29 percent think the president is responsible.

Any final deal, Americans think, will have to involve compromise. In our poll, 69 percent said they think Mr. Obama needs to compromise, while 85 percent say Republicans should make concessions. Only 11 percent say Republicans should stick to their positions.

But House Speaker John Boehner said last week Republicans won't budge when it comes to taxes.

"Our stand on the debt limit has been clear: There can be no tax hikes because tax hikes destroy jobs," Boehner said.

Still most Americans, including Republicans, seem to disagree.

About 66 percent of Americans believe any final deal should include a combination of both spending cuts and tax increases. This includes 55 percent of Republicans, and 53 percent of tea party supporters.

Up until now, the White House has said it had to get a deal done by this Friday, July 22, so that Congress had time to enact the legislation. But on Monday, the president's spokesman said that it's not a hard and fast deadline, which means this thing may drag closer to the August 2nd deadline.